The Anti-Corruption Court has changed the measure of restraint for the former mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Gukasyan, to house arrest for a period of three months. He has been in custody since October 2025.
Gukasyan was transferred to house arrest on a bail of 15 million drams (about $40,000). It is worth noting that Gukasyan was arrested on corruption charges. The Anti-Corruption Committee announced that Gukasyan and seven other individuals are accused of extortion and receiving bribes, including receiving 4 million drams (10,000 dollars) for the legalization of an illegally constructed building in the city.
According to the investigation, Gukasyan and the chief architect of the city allegedly demanded money from a local resident in exchange for reclassifying an illegal structure of 1500 square meters into a legal one, promising to forge official documents to show that it had been demolished and reconstructed.
In early June of this year, the Investigative Committee issued a statement saying that the head of the Gyumri community in the Shirak region, Vardan Gukasyan, along with other individuals, was engaged in preparatory actions aimed at seizing power in the Republic of Armenia by methods not provided for by the Constitution, but due to circumstances beyond their control, was unable to start the execution of the crime.
In connection with the statement, another criminal case has been initiated under part 1 of Article 43-419 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (preparation for the seizure of power).
